Control device



H. W. RICE CONTROL DEVICE July 15, 1952,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1947 I a i 1 INVENTOR. HAROLD W RICE. BYW A4,,

Jzz's errok/vfix H. W. RICE CONTROL DEVICE July 15, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2Filed Aug. 7, 1947 INVENTOR. H 2o40 w. .Qlcer /%M Patented July 15, 1952CONTROL DEVICE.

Harold W. Rice, Los Angeles. Calif;, assignor to Robertshaw-FultonControls Company, a-'cor--' poration of Delaware Application-August 7,1947, Serl'alNo. 767.2619

This. invention relates to operating: means for control; devices. and,more particularly, to com.- bined safety and condition responsiveoperators forvalves.

In my copending application, serial No. 565,608.

filed November 29, 1944; now U. S. Patent No. 2,504,049. issued April11, 1950, there is disclosed a single valve having provision foroperation through lever devicesiby both a thermoelectric safety deviceand an electric clock timer. The arrangement prevents operation of thevalve by theclookunless the safety device permits. Thus, when theapparatus is installed on an appliance, such as agas range, therecan .beno flow of fuel to the main: burner unless the pilot burner is lightedand is. causing the thermoelectric safety device to operate. Undertheseconditions the clock can automatically time a working operationby'operating" the valve between its con trolling positions.

The foregoing arrangement is satisfactory as long asboth forms ofcontrol are retained. In somercases, however, the clockcontrol is not(le v sired or it becomes necessary to remove it for repair orservicing. It is advantageous under. these circumstances to insureoperation of the appliance with safety even though the timingoperationis dispensed with. Hence, an object of this invention is tooperate a control deviceselectively by a combined safety and-conditionresponsive means or by one of these means singly.

Another object of the invention is te-simplify the" changeover fromthecombinedtosingle formv of.icontrol by-providing'for aneasy adjustmentof the existing parts. 7

Another. object ofxth'einvention. is. to afiord easy'access to theoperating parts andparticularlyr tov those. requiring manual, operationin the functioningof the control;

Another objector the invention is to visually.

indicate-the pesitionofthe operating par-tsduring' normal: operation ofthe apparatus.-

Other. objects. and .advantageswill become ap v parent: from: the.-following. descriptiontaken in connectionhwith. the. accompanyingdrawings,

6 Claims. (Cl..13 7.--66) Fig. 4: is a longitudinal. section inschematic form of a combined safety and condition responsiveoperatorishowing a modifiedform of the invention Fig; 5 is alongitudinal sectional view similar to .Fig. 4 but showing the partsinanother operating position;

Fig: 61s. a rear elevation of the'structure shown in Fig; "4;" and.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in 'sectionroi thestruc'ture showninFiga but withithe'p'artsin stillanother operating position Referring;more particularly to thedrawings. Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, thestructure-includes generally a control means Ill, an actuating. means I2'anda safety device It all of which will be described more fullyhereinafter; The actuating means [2 is mounted uponthe backguard I6 01adomestic: gas: range: which has an; aperture 18 formedin its. frontwallior the insertion of. the control means I l'l'laand the safetydevice I 4 rearwardly thereof. A cover 2a is secured over theaperture-|8 and serves to hide the control means In and safety device Mfrom view. A support 22 whicnmaytakethe form of a suitably bent plateiss'eoured to thebackguard I6 andserves to support the control means Inand the safety device 14 inposition.

The; control means 10- comprises a; generally rectan'gular'hollow body24: having. an inlet opening 26 'andan outlet opening28-whichare-suitab1y threadedior otherwise formedifor connectionwithfluidconduits or pipes 38 and 32 respectively. A partition. is formedintegrally within-the body 24 between the inlet openinglt and the outletopening: 28 and is provided with a valveopening 36}providing"communication therebetween. v A

valve member 38 is bias'ed by a coil spring; 40 against the partitionedto eontrol the now of fluid through the opening 36. A.Va.1V8StBm-.42-prO-I jects fromthe valvemember- 38totheexterior'ioi the-body;mamas. reciprocable :therein as positioning; the. valve:memberv 3.8against'the biasoi the spring .40.

type comprising a magnet housing 44 within which-ahorseshoe-magnet46+isrigidly'mounted; An 1. armature member 48- having.a stem. is is adapted-.tobe moved into attracted! position relative tothe. pole facesof the magnet 46 by means of a manually operableresetstem50 whichprojects through the front cover 20.. The movementofthereSet-stem 50 is transmittedto the'armature-'48 through abell-crank 52 pivotedon the support 22.: andLattached to a U-shaped:bracket The safety. device: l4 is of the:el'e'ctroinagneti c 54 operableover the magnet housing 44 and through which the armature stem 49projects. A coil spring 56 extends between the underside of the bracket54 and the magnet housing 44. A detent 58 is provided on the armaturestem 46 and overlies the bracket 54 so that the spring 56 is eifectivefor biasing the armature 48 away from the pole faces of the magnet 46.

Any suitable means may be provided for energizing the magnet 46 of thesafety device I 4. In the copending application previously referred tothermoelectric means were provided for this purpose. Such means areindicated herein as comprising a winding 60 for the magnet 46' which isconnected through conductors 62' and 64 to a suitable source ofelectrical energy such as a thermocouple (not shown). It will beunderstood that the energy provided by a thermocouple is in ufficient tocause movement of the armature 48 to attracted position relative to thepole faces of the magnet 46 and that the manual resetting meanspreviously described are relied upon for. this operation. However, whenthe armature 48 has thus been reset, the energy so generated issuflicient to retain the armature 48 in attracted position against thebias of the coil spring 56. l x

The actuating means [2 takes the form of an electric clock having anactuating plunger 66 projecting therefrom for reciprocable movementbetween operating positions. The construction of the clock has nosignificance in this invention and any commercially available type oftiming device would serve the purpose provided a reciprocating elementsuch as the plunger 66' is associated therewith. In Fig. 1 of thedrawings, the plunger 66 is shown in its retracted position whichismaintained until the occurrence of the desired condition, such as theinitiation of the timing period, when the plunger 66 moves to the leftfrom the position "shown. It will be understood that other conditionresponsive means could be substituted for the electric clock and thatthe conditions could be pressure, temperature, or humidity, amongothers.

The lever device of this invention takes the form, in the embodimentsshown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, of a pair of levers 68 and Irespectively which, as will hereinafter appear, are adjus'table bodilyto a plurality of positions. In one of these positions the levers 68,have operativerelation with the control means H), the actuating means l2and the safety device 14.

In the other one of-- these positions, the levers '66, 10 have operativerelation with the control means l0 and the-safety device [4 only. The

arrangement is such that the lever device comprising levers 68, 10 willoperate the control means in selectively by either the actuating meansl2 and the safety device I4, or by the safety device l4 only. v

* J The lever 68 comprises a substantially rectanjgular plate having oneend projecting through an enlarged aperture 69 in the background l6 foroverlying relationship at one free end with the-actuating plunger 66. Asuitable adjustment screw" projects fromthe lever 68 into operativeengagement with the plunger 66. The opposite fieeend of the lever 68 is'suitably bifurcated, as

at 14 to straddle the valve stem 42 which it over- 1ies. The support 22is provided with an inwardly bent portion 13 projecting toward the lever68 and having a rectangular slot I5 formed in the end'face thereof. 'Abracket 16 is detachably secured by a screw 18 to the backguard I6 andisangularly formed, as at 80, to project through 4 the enlarged aperture69 on one side of the lever 68. The lever 68 is provided with a pair ofslots 8| and 82 for alternative use as will be apparent hereinafter. Inthe first position of the lever device as shown in the drawings, theangularly formed portion of the bracket 16 extends through the slot 8|in the lever 68 and enters the slot 15 providing a tongue and grooveconnection with the support 22 as more'clearly shown in Big. 3a. Thebifurcated end 14 of the lever 68 is provided with a pair of projections83 which are formed on the side of the lever 68 adjacent the controlmeans In and jointly provide an abutment for a purpose apparenthereinafter. Moreover, a portion of the support 22 which lies oppositethe valve stem 42 is bent inwardly, as at 84, to provide an abutment forthe lever 68 as will also be apparent hereinafter.

' The lever 10 is also ofsubstantially rectangular form but is flexibleand somewhat wider than the lever 68. The lever 10 extends between thesafety device l4 and the control means It! by having a bearing at oneend on the armature stem 46 and being provided with an enlarged aperture86 through which the valve stem 42 freely projects. The upper'wall ofthe aperture 86 is bent outwardly, as at 61, providing an inclinedsurface which will slide over the end of the valve stem 42 which may besuitably tapered to prevent binding at this point. A fulcrum for thelever 10 is provided by an inwardly bent portion 83 on the support 22which has a reduced end projecting through 'an elongated aperture 90 inthe lever 10 and defining a shoulder 89 on which the lever 10 may bear.Longitudina1movement of the lever 10 with the armature 48 is effected bya finger 92 on the bracket 54 which projects through a slotted portionon the lever 10 for pulling the same downwardly when the armature 48 ismoved into attracted position with the pole faces of the magnet 46.

In order to indicate visually the position of the armature 48, thebracket 54 carries a laterally projecting arm 94 having a dependingportion 96 in proximate relation with the rear face of the cover 20. Thedepending portion 96 carries the legends On and Off which may be viewedindividually through a window 98 formed in the cover 20 for thispurpose.

In the operation of the device it may be assumed that the parts are inthe inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of thedrawings, that is, with the plunger 66 of the actuating means l2 inretracted position and the armature 48 disengaged from the pole faces ofthe magnet 46. Upon energy of suflicient value being supplied to thewinding 60 of the magnet 46 by the thermocouple or other source, asdescribed, the reset stem 50 is manually operated to place the armature48 in its attracted position. Such operation will actuate the finger 92to pull the lever 10 downwardly. The inclined surface 81 will slide overthe valve stem 42 as the lever 10 undergoes a fiexure and pivotalmovement on the fulcrum 89 during its downward movement. Such operationwill position the aperture 86 in the lever 10 below the valve stem 42.If the magnet 46 is sufliciently energized the lever 10 will be retainedin the downward position so that the unperforated end portion of thelever 10 is interposed between the bifurcated end 14 of the lever 68 andthe valve stem 42. The lever 10 is then in an operative position fortransmitting movement to the valve stem 42 although such movement has sofar not occurred.

viously described.

acetate At the. appropriate timeset v-thec nekmrm:

caused, to move to open position againstthe bias Ofthe, coil spring lii;If. thepipefiiliscqn lficted to a; source offluid. under --pr essure,-then such,

fluid will be admitted .170, the outletpipe 32, 'fQi delivery tothepoint of use.

Atthe expiration of thetime period'set by the clock, the plungerfifi isautomatically;retracted and the bias of the coil. spring y liicausesthevalve member '38 to move to the closed position, It i is apparentthatthismovement of thevalve member 33 toward. closed position will.cause-the 46. The coil spring 55 will operate under its bias to move thearmature stem 49:11pwardlyand consequently return the lever It to itsoriginal position shown in the-drawings. As the aperture 85 in the leverE3 is now located, opposite the valve stem $2, the force exerted by thelever 68 cannot be transmitted to the valve stem 42 assuming-that theplunger it is extended. Hence the valve member 33 is closed by the biasof the spring iii. The apparatus cannot be again placed in normaloperation until the supply of energy to the winding Eli restored as byheatingv of the thermo= couple to which it is connected.

In the event that the actuating means 121s not to be used or is removedfor repair or other reasons, then the device nevertheless can be usedwithsafety by a simple adjustment of the lever device to a secondposition. The screw 18 holding the bracket is is first removed to permitthe bracket 76 to be detached from the backguard I6, carrying the lever658 with this bracket it. The lever 53 is then removed from the bracket16 by sliding it off the end thereof. The bracket I6 and lever I58 arethen reassembled with the angular portion so received within the slot 82which serves as the alternative pivoting means for the lever 63. Thebracket '56 carrying the lever 58 is then replaced on the backguard Itwith its'end entering the slot'IS on the bent portion 73 of the support22 and is secured with the screw "I8. It will be apparent that theprojecting end of the lever 68 no longer overlies the plunger '55 due toits lowered position. The projections 83 on the lever 58 are nowpositioned opposite the valve stem 42, while the projection 84 on thebracket "It serves to limit'clockwise rotation of: the lever es in thisposition.

The operation of the device in the lowered position of the lever-68 issimilar to that pre- Thus, when the armature 65 is engaged with the polefaces of the magnet '15 and the lever i6 is pulled downwardly by thefinger 92, thenthe projections 83'will serve as spacers.gbetween.the bfiment. B4 .andvt erlever lqto open the valvemember 33 if theilever; It isinr. .t s. dqw wa dpos tion-V hen the magnet 6 b comeside n zed.the l v18 is moved upwardly ,until .the. aperture; 8%. is opposite the. valvestemel The, valve stem Al is. then free to. move under, thebias of thespring for en: engine the .valve member 38,.WitI l the partition nd os nt e ope in tth re ihe Q l". l me n I s hu O erat d. under contr of thesafety device I,. when the,lever device isad- J'u t'ed' to: ts cond pitio Intheenibodiment Shown in Figs 4 to '7 inclu s v rs m 'ar r ferencumerals have been, us d muesienate: p nt co resp n t s h s ho n n..Fiav1 to amom ve and.- urt r d scripti n, oflthese. corresponding parts isdeerned. unnece saryo Inthe;modifiedarrangenient the safety.

device I4 i positioned-0n the support 28fwith the armaturestern, 45substantially parallel with the valvestemJiZ. .The reset'stem 59transmits motion directlyto. the-armature at so that the interveningparts of the previous embodiment are dispensed with. In this modifiedarrangement a different form of lever device is also providedtoaccolliDlish the'desired result of operating the control means I0selectively either by the combined, safety device I 4 and actuatingmeans I2 orby the safety device I ialone;

The lever device of this alternative embodiinentcomprisesa pair oflevers I06 and I62 respectively and both beingv of channel-shaped form,The lever I99 ispivoted intermediate its ends on pin means I94"extending through the opposite sidesthereof and-carried by a channel--shaped bracket I66 which houses the levers Illi), I02. In the firstposition, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the lever Iiifiextends in overlying relationship with the armature stem ,49 and isfreeto pivot within the bracket Hi6 upon movement of the armature 68; toits released and attracted positions.

The bracket IQE is provided with a pair of sub: stantially parallelslots lfiethrough which a pair of screws I 'I 0 extend for securing itin positionon the support 22; c The bracket IE5 is longitudinallyslidable relative to the support 22 upon loosening of the screws I I i]and is guided during such move ment by the provisionof four spaced pinsI I2 of whichthere are two projecting from the support -22 into each of"the slots H33 and located one on-either side'of the screws Iill. Thepins H2 also-serve to limit-the slidable Inovernent'of the bracket IBBby engagement with the opposite ends of the slots I58 as will beapparent. It will be understood'that semi-positive stops could beutilized in place of the screw, pin and slot arrangernent to ensureguided movement of the bracket Ifidfromoneposition to the other and itslocation in either upward or downward position.

The lever IGZis-pivoted intermediate its ends on pin meansI'Ifiextending through opposite sides ofthe-lever I913. The pivots H 5are-preferably: located on the lever Hllladiacent the free end thereofopposite that which overlies the armature stem 49. Thus, in the firstlever posi-- tion shown :in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the lever 492 has one freeend'overlying the plunger 65- and its opposite free end overlyingthe-valve stem 42.

A projection H5 is formed on the lever I02 intermediate the pivot I I4and the upper free end thereof for a purpose which will be apparenthereinafter.

. In the operation of the: device-shown in Figs. 4.1m: inclusive itmaybe assumed that-the tion with the previous embodiment.

plunger 66has moved to the left as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5 and istherefore in its extended position for a timing operation by the clockforming the actuating means I2. The armature 48 is being retained inattracted position relative to the pole faces of the magnet 46 due toenergy of sufiicient value being supplied by the thermocouple or othersource as described in connec- Consequently, in the position shown inFig. 4 the bias of the coil spring 40 has been overcome and the valvemember 38 is held in open position. This position of the parts isobtained by manual operation of the reset stem 50 serving to move thearmature stem 49 to the left as viewed in the drawings, causing thelever I to rotate clockwise on the pivot I04. As the lever I00 carriesthe lever I02 it is apparent that such pivotal movement of the lever I00causes the pivot H4 01 the lever I02 to move clockwise also to theposition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Since the plunger 66 is in itsextended position, a counterclockwise movement of the lever I02 thenoccurs about the pivot II4 which is suflicient to overcome the bias ofthe valve spring 40 and cause the valve member 38 to move to openposition.

At the end of the timing period set by the clock, the plunger 66 willmove to its retracted position, that is, to the right from the positionshown in the drawings. The lever I02 will then be rotated in a clockwisedirection on the pivot II4 bythe valve stem 42 due to the valve member38 being closed under the bias of the coil spring 40. During suchoperation of the clock the armature 48 is retained in its attractedposition and no movement of the lever I00 occurs from the position shownin Fig. 4.

In the event that the energy supplied to the winding 60 of the magnet 46is insufficient to retain the armature in the attracted position, thenthe parts assume the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Thus, thelever I00 can no longer retain the pivot II4 of the lever I02 in theposition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and a counterclockwise movementof this pivot II4 occurs due to the bias of the valve spring 40. Suchforce is transmitted through the valve stem 42 to the lever I02 whichpivots at its point of contact with the plunger 66 causing the describedmovement of the pivot H4 and consequent movement of the lever I00 to theposition shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Thus, the armature 46 isforced away from the pole faces of the magnet 46 and the valve member 38oocupies the closed position shown in Fig. 5. As in the previousembodiment, the device cannot again be placed under control of the clockor actuating means l2 until the safety device I4 has been manually resetand the armature 48 is retained in an attracted position.

Upon loosening of the screws IIO, the bracket I06 may be adjustedrelative to the support 22 as previously described. The adjustedposition is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, it being noted that theuppermost pins II2 have limited the downward movement of the bracket I06by engagement with the upper ends of the slot I08. In this secondposition the levers I00 and I02 are adapted to occupy the same relativepositions as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Under theconditions described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5 the lever deviceoperates similarly due to the provision of the projection II6 which actsas an abutment for the lever I02 in cooperation with the support 2i.Thus. the levers I00 and I 02 occupy the full-line position shown inFig. 7 of the drawings when the armature 48 is being retained in itsattracted position and the valve member 38 is being held in openposition. In the event that the armature moves to its re leased positionas described in connection with Fig. 5, then the lever I02 will rotateabout the projection II6 as a fulcrum instead of rotating about theplunger 66 as previously described. The levers I00 and I02 will then bemoved to the broken line position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings due tothe bias of the valve spring 40, it being noted that such leverpositions are equivalent to those shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings exceptthat the overlying relationship with the plunger 66 has been dispensedwith.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and.arrangement of parts without departing from the scopeof the invention so that this description and accompanying drawings areintended by way of illustration only and are not to be construed in alimiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. The combination comprising: control means; a support member; a levermember carried by said support member and adjustable bodily to aplurality of operative positions; a condition responsive safety devicecooperable with said lever member and operable in all positions of saidlever member to establish an operative relation between said levermember and said control means in the presence of said condition and topreclude said operative relation in the absence of said condition;actuating means for moving said lever member into operative engagementwith said control means while said condition is present, said levermember being operatively associated with said actuating means in one ofsaid positions and independent of said actuating means in another ofsaid positions; and means on one of said members cooperable with theother said member in said other position for positioning said levermember in operative engagement with said control means while saidcondition is present.

2. The combination comprising: control means biased to a controllingposition; a support member; a lever member carried by said supportmember and adjustable bodily to a plurality of operative positions; anelectromagnetic safety device having an armature cooperable with saidlever member and adapted to be retained in attracted position tomaintain an operative relation between said control means and said levermember; actuating means for moving said lever member into operativeengagement with said control means to overcome said bias while said.

armature is in attracted position, said lever member being operativelyconnected with said actuating means in one of said positions and beingindependent of said actuating means in another of said positions; andmeans on one of said members cooperable with the other said member insaid other position for positioning said lever member in operativeengagement with said control means to overcome said bias while saidarmature is in attracted position.

3. The combination comprising: control means biased to a controllingposition; a support; a lever device carried by said support to beadjustable bodily to a plurality of operative positions and including apair of pivoted levers; an electromagnetic safety device having anarmature operatively connected with one of said levers and adapted to beset and retained in attracted position to establish and maintain anoperative relation between said control means and the other of saidlevers; actuating means cooperable with said other lever in a firstposition of said lever device for moving said other lever into operativeengagement with said control means to overcome said bias while saidarmature is in attracted position, said lever device having a secondposition in which cooperation of said other lever with said actuatingmeans is precluded; and abutment means on said other lever cooperablewith said support in said second position for positioning said otherlever in operative engagement with said control means to overcome saidbias while said armature is in attracted position.

4. The combination comprising: control means biased to a controllingposition; a support; a pair of pivoted levers carried by said support;an electromagnetic safety device having an armature operativelyconnected with one of said levers and adapted in attracted position toposition said one lever in operative engagement with said control means;actuating means cooperable with the other of said levers in a firstposition thereof for pivotally moving said other lever into operativeengagement with said one lever to position said one lever to overcomethe bias of said control means while said armature is in attractedposition, said other lever having a second position in which cooperationthereof with said actuating means is precluded; and abutment means onsaid support cooperable with said other lever in said second positionfor positioning said other lever in operative engagement with said onelever to position said one lever to overcome said bias while saidarmature is in attracted position.

5. The combination comprising: control means biased to a controllingposition; a support; a pair of levers; an electromagnetic safety devicehaving an armature operatively connected with one of said levers andadapted in attracted position to position said one lever in operativeengagement with said control means; a detachable bracket carried by saidsupport, the other of said levers being adapted for pivotal mounting infirst and second positions on said bracket; actuating means cooperablewith said other lever in said first position for pivotally moving saidother lever into operative engagement with said one lever to positionsaid one lever to overcome the bias of said control means while saidarmature is in attracted position, said actuating means beingindependent of said other lever when said other lever is in said secondposition; abutment means carried by said other lever; and abutment meanson said bracket cooperable with said other lever when said other leveris mounted in said second position to position said abutment meanscarried by said other lever in operative engagement with said one leverto position said one lever to overcome said bias while said armature isin attracted position.

6. The combination comprising: control means biased to a controllingposition; a support; an adjustable bracket secured to said support; afirst lever pivotally mounted on said bracket; a second lever pivotallymounted on said first lever; an electromagnetic safety device having anarmature operatively connected with said first lever and adapted toposition said first lever to maintain an operative relation between saidsecond lever and said control means when said armature is in attractedposition; actuating means'cooperable with said second lever in a firstposition of said bracket for moving said second lever into operativeengagement with said control means to overcome said bias while saidarmature is in attracted position, said bracket having a second positionin which cooperation of said second lever with said actuating means isprecluded; and abutment means on said second lever cooperable with saidsupport when said bracket is in said second position for positioningsaid second lever in operative engagement with said control means toovercome said bias while said armature is in attracted position.

HAROLD W. RICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,201,399 Jackson May 21, 19402,302,624 Gallagher Nov. 17, 1942 2,363,073 Mantz Nov. 21, 19442,481,265 Van Denberg Sept. 6, 1949 2,504,048 Rice Apr. 11, 1950

